Understanding Lin Yutang From The Perspective Of Deconstruction:His Ideas And Practices In Translation

Since the 1990 s,Chinese translation scholars have begun to intensively introduce western translation theories,which on one hand has greatly facilitated the development of Chinese translation studies,however on the other hand has brought about the problem of “take-ism”(1): most of Chinese scholars have been accustomed to directly applying these western theories in their studies,seldom questioning or rethinking the applicability of these theories(Xu Jun,2014: 243).Having realized its limits and great disadvantages,some broad-visioned and forward-looking scholars appealed to construct Translatology with Chinese characteristics.To realize this goal,Professor Xu Jun suggested an effective way: re-exploring Chinese traditional translation ideas in light of modern translation theories to discover their new values and get some new interpretations.With the intention of gaining some new interpretations to Lin Yutang's(2)translation thoughts and practices,the thesis studies Lin's ideas and practices in translation from the perspective of Deconstruction.Mostly well-known in the world for his outstanding literary creations,Lin Yutang has also made great achievements in translation and transmission of Chinese culture to the West.His insightful translation ideas and excellent translated works can be and need to be further researched.Deconstruction translation theory has exerted a revolution on thought in modern translation studies,inspiring many new perspectives for translation researches.Re-examining Lin's translation ideas and practices with the current Deconstruction theory,the thesis hopes to contribute some to the innovation of Chinese translation studies.The thesis is composed of six chapters.The first chapter offers a brief introduction to the research background,research significance and structure of the research.The second chapter is the literature review of previous studies on Deconstruction translation theory and Lin Yutang as a translator.The third chapter provides a general introduction to Deconstruction translation theory.Three pioneering articles in which the main Deconstruction translation ideas are stated(Walter Benjamin's “The Task of the Translator”,Derrida's “The Journey to Babel”(1)(“Des Tours de Babel”)and “What is a ‘Relevant' Translation?”)are first analyzed.Then,three natures of Deconstruction translation theory are summarized,namely,challenge to the authority of the source text,translator's subjectivity and diversified research perspectives.Its later development and significance are also discussed in this chapter.The fourth chapter and the fifth chapter are the main body of this thesis.The fourth chapter studies Lin's translation thoughts in light of Deconstruction translation theory.The central Deconstruction translation ideas are reflected to a great degree in Lin's thoughts on translation.He enriches the connotations of “faithfulness”,proposes the idea of impossibility of absolute faithfulness,realizes the functions of different factors in translation and thus points out three responsibilities for translator,and emphasizes translator's subjectivity.The fifth chapter explores Lin's translation practices with Deconstruction translation theory.Lin's subjectivity as a translator is highly embodied in his active choice for translation materials,creative treason in translation and employment of the combination of Domestication and Foreignization strategy.The final chapter is a conclusion for research findings and limitations.